Record labels are suing AI music generators for copyright infringement

News & Politics

A legal firestorm is brewing today over a major clash between record companies and AI music services. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has filed copyright infringement lawsuits against two companies, accusing them of training their AI models on copyrighted music without permission and creating AI-generated music that closely resembles that of other artists.

NBC News reached out to both defendants. Sunno's CEO responded, stating that they had attempted to discuss the matter with the record labels but were instead met with legal action. The other company involved is Uncharted Labs, which offers software called Udio. Udio's technology was used to create the contentious song "BBL Drizzy," which mimics the styles of Kendrick Lamar and Drake.

The RIAA claims that these unlicensed services exploit artists' work without consent or payment, thereby undermining the potential of genuinely innovative AI. To demonstrate the capabilities of Udio, NBC asked the software to generate a response, which it did, showing clear bias towards AI.

The lawsuits open up complex legal questions about copyright and the use of AI in music. This situation is reminiscent of the Napster era, although it's more complex because the AI-generated tunes are not exact copies but are still strikingly similar to existing songs. Legal experts will need to determine whether these AI-generated melodies and voices constitute copyright infringement or artistic representation.

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FAQ

Q1: What companies are being sued by the RIAA?
A1: The companies being sued are Sunno and Uncharted Labs, with the latter providing software known as Udio.

Q2: What is the main accusation in the lawsuits?
A2: The main accusation is that these companies trained their AI models on copyrighted music without permission and generated music that closely resembles that of other artists.

Q3: What type of music did the AI software Udio generate that caused controversy?
A3: Udio generated the song "BBL Drizzy," which closely mimics the styles of artists Kendrick Lamar and Drake, causing significant concern.

Q4: What does the RIAA claim about these AI music services?
A4: The RIAA claims that these unlicensed services exploit artists' work without consent or payment, and this undermines the potential of genuinely innovative AI.

Q5: How does this situation compare to the Napster era?
A5: Unlike Napster, where actual songs were shared, the current issue involves AI generating songs that are not exact copies but are still very similar, making the legal questions more complex.